Population in largest city in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Population in largest city was 4.88 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
4.88 million
Change on year
up 3.1%
World rank
42nd
of 153 countries
All-time high
4.88 million
in 2025
All-time low
285,352
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Population in largest city in Afghanistan, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
The most recent figure for population in largest city in Afghanistan is 4.88 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.1% on the previous year and up 31.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in largest city in Afghanistan peaked at 4.88 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 285,352, in 1960.
Afghanistan ranks 42nd of 153 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population in largest city in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 285,352 | — |
| 1961 | 300,359 | +5.3% |
| 1962 | 316,177 | +5.3% |
| 1963 | 332,829 | +5.3% |
| 1964 | 350,382 | +5.3% |
| 1965 | 368,809 | +5.3% |
| 1966 | 388,232 | +5.3% |
| 1967 | 408,087 | +5.1% |
| 1968 | 428,363 | +5.0% |
| 1969 | 449,585 | +5.0% |
| 1970 | 471,891 | +5.0% |
| 1971 | 495,303 | +5.0% |
| 1972 | 528,508 | +6.7% |
| 1973 | 573,161 | +8.4% |
| 1974 | 621,656 | +8.5% |
| 1975 | 674,254 | +8.5% |
| 1976 | 731,385 | +8.5% |
| 1977 | 793,178 | +8.4% |
| 1978 | 860,289 | +8.5% |
| 1979 | 932,388 | +8.4% |
| 1980 | 977,824 | +4.9% |
| 1981 | 1.03 million | +4.9% |
| 1982 | 1.08 million | +4.9% |
| 1983 | 1.13 million | +4.9% |
| 1984 | 1.18 million | +4.9% |
| 1985 | 1.24 million | +4.9% |
| 1986 | 1.30 million | +4.9% |
| 1987 | 1.36 million | +4.5% |
| 1988 | 1.42 million | +4.5% |
| 1989 | 1.48 million | +4.5% |
| 1990 | 1.55 million | +4.5% |
| 1991 | 1.62 million | +4.5% |
| 1992 | 1.69 million | +4.5% |
| 1993 | 1.77 million | +4.5% |
| 1994 | 1.85 million | +4.5% |
| 1995 | 1.93 million | +4.5% |
| 1996 | 2.02 million | +4.5% |
| 1997 | 2.11 million | +4.5% |
| 1998 | 2.20 million | +4.5% |
| 1999 | 2.30 million | +4.5% |
| 2000 | 2.40 million | +4.5% |
| 2001 | 2.51 million | +4.5% |
| 2002 | 2.62 million | +4.5% |
| 2003 | 2.74 million | +4.5% |
| 2004 | 2.83 million | +3.5% |
| 2005 | 2.91 million | +2.5% |
| 2006 | 2.98 million | +2.5% |
| 2007 | 3.05 million | +2.5% |
| 2008 | 3.13 million | +2.5% |
| 2009 | 3.21 million | +2.5% |
| 2010 | 3.29 million | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 3.37 million | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 3.46 million | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 3.54 million | +2.5% |
| 2014 | 3.63 million | +2.5% |
| 2015 | 3.72 million | +2.5% |
| 2016 | 3.82 million | +2.5% |
| 2017 | 3.91 million | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 4.01 million | +2.5% |
| 2019 | 4.11 million | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 4.22 million | +2.6% |
| 2021 | 4.34 million | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 4.46 million | +2.8% |
| 2023 | 4.59 million | +2.9% |
| 2024 | 4.73 million | +3.0% |
| 2025 | 4.88 million | +3.1% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 4.88 million is above the median for low income countries, which is 1.98 million, 2.5× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 4.88 million is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 3.05 million, 1.6× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 362,818 | 285,352 | 449,585 | 10 |
| 1970s | 668,201 | 471,891 | 932,388 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.22 million | 977,824 | 1.48 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.90 million | 1.55 million | 2.30 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.84 million | 2.40 million | 3.21 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.69 million | 3.29 million | 4.11 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.53 million | 4.22 million | 4.88 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More urban development data for Afghanistan
- Population in the largest city 42.9% (2025)
- Population density 63.56 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 37.95 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.1112 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 4.88 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 3.14 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square 7.04 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Crude steelmaking capacity 0 Tonnes (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 73.42 Hectares (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in largest city in Afghanistan?
- Population in largest city in Afghanistan was 4.88 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in largest city recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 4.88 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population in largest city recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 285,352 in 1960.
- How does Afghanistan rank for population in largest city?
- Afghanistan ranks 42nd out of 153 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population in largest city rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), published as part of Population in largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Population in largest city is the urban population living in the country's largest metropolitan area.